The Times...

  ...They are a'comin', to paraphrase  Bob.

And because they're coming so fast, we have

CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN PROJECT #1

AKA the little darling "Reasons Why" book!

People often ask me where I get my inspiration. The truth is, I don't know! I will be walking around and something just grabs me. And one of my favorite place to troll for ideas is the dollar section of TCSTSNBN*. I saw this cute little calendar keychain (though why someone would buy a calendar so small you couldn't actually write anything on and hook it onto their purse or belt loop is beyond me... but who am I to ask why??) and I immediately knew I could create something cute. So I bought one.

*The Craft Store that Shall Not Be Named

Supplies:

-Silly keychain calendar

-Three pieces of coordinating cardstock (you will not need the whole sheet)

-Several sheets of coordinating patterned paper (ditto -- I used samples of the 7Gypsies papers they handed out at CHA. In fact, the ONLY free thing I've ever received from 7Gypsies, but I digress...)

-Rub-on alphas or stamps (I used American Crafts Minimarks)

-Rub-on numbers (I used 7Gypsies -- they came in a whole sheet and I only needed a few)

-3/8" circle punch

-Metal tabs (I used Heidi Swapp in orange and yellow)

-A variety of deco-edge scissors (I used Fiskars portable trimmer with changeable blades and Provo Craft scalloped scissors)

-Corner rounder (I used Creative Memories)

-2" square punch (I used EK Success)

-Adhesive (I used a plain ole' glue stick)

-Computer

Step One: Admire the lovely classic car on the cover of your calendar and bemoan the fact that you will be soon covering it up. Boohoo.

Step Two: Assemble your materials. Measure the cover and cut 12 squares of cardstock and 11 squares of patterned paper. (I ripped two months from my little calendar because I wanted to go with the "10 reasons" theme. You could just as easily do "11 reasons," or "12 reasons," or rip out half the book if you're making it for someone you really don't like all that much and you can't think of more than 5 or 6 reasons... but in that case you might want to reassess and make the book for someone else. I mean, it is a lot of work... but you decide).

Step Three: For the cover, use the pinking blade on the trimmer or your deco scissors to trim the bottom of the cardstock and adhere to cover.

Step Four: Adhere patterned paper and cardstock through the book, putting cardstock on the left-hand side and the covers. The right-hand side, through process of elimination, will be patterned paper. I bet you figured that out already.

Step Five: Realize that you got so wrapped up in the CSI New York episode you are watching (the one where the construction worker is killed from a frozen "poopsicle" falling from a plane on its descent into La Guardia) that you forgot to take pictures there for a minute. Rectify the situation by taking a cute -- though pretty much worthless -- "beauty" shot of the book all spread out.

Step Six: Go through the book and trim the pages to different lengths using the deco scissors, the corner rounders, and the trimmer blades.

Step Seven: Work on the cover. I mounted a small square of Scenic Route patterned paper and used the rub-ons to add the title (very original, don't you think?).

Step Eight: Using the circle punch and the metal tabs, add one tab per page and label with the rub-ons. Realize you got carried away for a minute again and forgot to take photos. Darned CSI.

Step Nine: Put CSI on pause and run into the other room to use the computer. Create a 2x2" text box in Word ("Insert" --> "text box"), choose a font and size you like, and type in your ten (or 11 or 12 or 6)  reasons. While you are there, resize corresponding photos to approximately 2x2" and print everything out.

Step Ten: Cut everything out. I chose to leave a white border on my photos so they would stand out a bit from the patterned paper.

Step Eleven: Adhere photos and text squares to corresponding pages.

Step Twelve: You're done! Put the keychain back on if you removed it and smile. Another present crossed off your list.

Note: I purposely kept this simple because it's for my husband. I was thinking about adding tags, ribbons, etc., but I want this to be something he can toss in his briefcase or suitcase while he's traveling, so I kept it really plain. No, I wasn't wimping out on you. It was a design decision! ;)

Variations: Just brainstorming here... a cute teacher book, new mom shower advice book, coupon book, etc... I am sure there are a million more uses but my brain is tired and my husband is leaving for Boston in less than 12 hours, so I'd better go downstairs and give this to him.

Comments

[sockiepuppets mom]

Really cute! I am always looking for new ways to tell my husband I love him, this is perfect:) Thank you!

[melita]

another adorable project! one of these days I will get my act together and make all of these! ;)

[Amy Castellano]

another uber cute idea...thanks again!!

[Mary c]

Totally awesome idea. I think I will make a couple for my grandson's to put on their backpacks. For the 8 yr old it will have to be 10 or 12 or 6 reasons why you are cool or something but what a great idea.

[JenMc]

I read your mind this time. I was milling about the $1 section of that nameless craft store and I saw the calendars. I bought a few thinking that I certainly could come up with something for them. I also thought that you have been using lots of stuff from this area, so maybe you'd have a project for them. And I was right! Can't wait to work on this (after I do my relay layout)!

Also, I bought Plain Truth this weekend and started it. Like it so far!

[tammy b]

i hafta tell you how much you make me giggle. oh, you're creative stuff is pretty dang cool too, but we are so much alike - again, except for the cool creative stuff - our processes, humor, and even acronyms - i totally didn't need the translation for TCSTSNBN! ok, that's all. oh, i think i'll brave the insane crowds at nameless store today and see if i can find any of these little beauts...with a bit of adjustment i can squeeze pics of my 6yo's 1st grade class in. that's another teacher gift down!

[Nicole]

Another winning idea! Too cute. I wish we had a craft store, named or otherwise. :) (there's a coming soon sign outside of town...please, please, please). As usual, I enjoyed your instructions the most :)

[Kelly Jo]

Another Adorable Project!!! Now when Dec 23rd comes and I'm not prepared, I'll only have myself to blame. Better get craftin'! ;)

[raesha]

Super cute!!! I've been so busy that I haven't had time to check in with you lately - I finally caught up on your last 30 posts tonite!! You have been busy too!!! I love this little book. I once slaved over a cute little mason jar full of little slips of paper of why I loved my husband for V-Day one year (about 10 years ago) - has he even opened it? NOPE! But I'm thinking I could make him one of these and hide it in his school backpack for him to find:)

[Etta]

Funny, I had the same thoughts about those silly little calendars when I saw them. Who wants a paper one that small?? Ever heard of a Palm Pilot?...

Very cute as usual. I, too, need to get my act together and actually do one of these. My brother is coming home from Japan on Saturday...this may be what he gets with photos of the family or something...Thanks for the inspiration!

[elsie]

i love this! can't wait to try it.

[Aby]

Hey girl! We're having email trouble...just wanted to make sure you got mine from yesterday (in response to yours on Sunday.) ;) --- Aby

[cheryl]

GREAT idea!!! I have got to figure out what i'm making for teachers gifts. i really think I'm going with the To-Do list mini book you had on here a few weeks ago. But I like this one too...

[Lela]

Thank you for sharing. I *know* where you got these books. I've got to snatch some up for quick gifts like this.

[Heather the MooseLover]

Really cute little book. I know of which calendars you name and I bought one for my 7 year old because it had the M&M's logo on it!

[laura]

girl, you crack me up! thank you for the informative AND entertaining tutorial :)

[mom2jnk]

Love this idea! I grabbed a couple of these today at my TCSTSNBN. One will most certainly be made into a little brag book for my mom with recent cute photos of my darling kids. On the cover... "Just Bragging..." Now I just need to figure out how to print the correct size photos in Picassa?!?
Michelle